Excavating machine



June 19, 1923. 1,459,481

W. E. TRAPNELL ET AL EYJXCAVATING MACHINE .Fil'ed Oct. 16. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 (I) o l vented 4 W EJ'raprwlL J A .Eaqtrwaogi,

June 1 9, 1923. 1,459,481

w.. E. TRAPNELL ET AL EXCAVATING MACHINE Filed Oct. 16 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 a Q I l :QZZ' it gnu-MUM I WEalrew l and RL J A .flaqterwoo'd.

Patented June 19, 19 23.

WILLIAM E. TRAPN ELL AND JOSEPH A. EASTERWOOD, F MADISONVILLE, KENTUCKY.

EXCAVATING MACHINE.

Application filed October 16, 1922. Serial No. 594,904.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that WILLIAM E. TRAPNELL and JosEPH A. EASTERWOOD, citizens of the United States, residing at Madisonville, in

the county of Hopkins and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Excavatin Machines, of

which the following is a speclfication.

The fpresent invention relates to power means 0 the dipper or shovel of an excavating machine.

An important object of the invention is to provide a device of the above mentioned character, which is adapted to be installed upon a steam shovel'or excavatin machine, ofthe ordinary type, without a tering the construction thereof, and embodying a trip line which may be connected with the usual latch of the dipper door.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the above mentioned character, which is of simple construction, and is adapted to maintain the trip line substantially straight throughout its entire length, except when the line is employed to actuate the latch.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the abovementioncd character, which is adapted to be mounted upon the transverse shaft carried by the crane, and may have connection with a pipe leading into the steam pipe of the driving engine, and which 'is also adapted to have a pedal arranged in convenient reach of the operator, and serving to actuate a valve, which supplies steam to the cylinder of the device. v

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

. In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of apparatus embodying my invention, showing the same in use, I

Figure 2 is a similar view, upon an enlarged scale,

Figure 3 is a transverse section through the boom or handle, taken on line 3--3 of Figure 2, parts in section,

r releasing or tripping the door of horizontally, as .is well known.

' Figure 4 is a side elevation of a support base, and, I

Figure 5 is an. edge elevation of a pulley carrying bracket.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of our invention, the numeral 5 designates the crane of an excavating machine or steam shovel, which is mounted to be shifted As more clearly shown in .Figure 3, the crane 5has -a block 6, rigidly mounted upon its 'upper side, which block has an o 'enin for the receptlon of a transverse s aft which is clamped rigidly within the block.

Rotatable upon the 'end portions of the shaft 7 are pinions 8, engaging racks 9, carried by ajboom or traveler-beam 10. This traveler-beam may be of any well known or preferred type and is shifted longitudinally by means of the gears 8 and alsoturns about these gears as a pivot, as is well known.

The numeral 11 designates an approximately inverted U-shaped saddle, provided at its ends with apertured heads 12, pivotally receiving the transverse shaft 7. The sides of the boom 10 are bolted to the transvzerse portion of the saddle 11, as shown at 1 The gears 8 receive their rotation from large gears 14, which are rotatable upon the shaft 7, and preferably cast integral with the gears 8. he gears 14 are each driven by a smaller gear 15, Figure 1, mounted upon each end of the crank. shaft 16 of a steam engine 17, which is rigidly mounted upon the I crane 5, as shown. The steam is supplied to the cylinder of the engine by a supply pipe The numeral 19 designates a shovel or dipper, suitably connected with the forward the crane 5. Any suitable hoisting means may be mounted upon the crane for raising and lowering the shovel.

Our invention resides particularly in the provision of power apparatus to actuate the latch 25, which is employed to normally hold passed i. so I sections 34 and 35 may be rigidly clamped the door shut. This latch may be of the vusual construction, such as a reciprocatory spring pressed bolt. The latch may be retracted by swinging the lever 26 rearwardly, which issecured to a 'rock shaft 27 ,mounted upon the boom: 10, and this rock shaft is turned -by'a second lever 28. The lever 28' "-has connection with a rearwardly extending tri cable. 29, which is arranged longitudi- ,na y of the boom and preferably slightly below it.

The rear end of the cable 29 is attached to a bracket 30, secured to the extension 31 at the rear end of the boom 10.

. section 34.

, The sections 34 and 35 of the support base are separate and are arranged in end to end relation. The upper section 35 has recesses 36 formed therein, producing shoulders 37.

Bolts 38 serve to clamp the upper section to the lower section, as shown.

H ends of the sections 34 and 35 havean opening 39 formed therein, for the reception of the end of the transverse shaft 7 and the diameter of this opening is slightly smaller than the diameter of the shaft, whereby the v to the shaft 7. This is important, as ,it is port base 33 desired that the support base remain stationary with respect to the shaft 7, in operation. Further, by proper manipulation of .;the bolts 38, the angular position of the supinay be varied, and the support ase again locked to the transverse shaft 7. Mounted to reciprocate Within the cylinder 32 is a piston 40, having a iston rod 41 secured thereto. This piston r o projects upwardly, through a stuffing box 42, and carhes a yoke 42 upon its upper end, which is rigidly secured thereto. Rotatably mounted within the yoke 42 by meansof an axle 43 is a grooved pulley 44, to engage with the trip line 29, as shown. A transverse in' 45 is carried by the upper end of the yo ke 42, and retains the trip line within the yoke. The numeral 46 designates coacting groove pulleys, normally spaced from the pulley 45, and arranged upon the opposite side of the trip line 29, in spaced relation thereto. The pulleys 46 are carried by *U-shaped yokes or brackets 47, through which the trip line 29 passes. These yokes are secured to L- shaped brackets 48, which are bolted to the upper base section 35, as shown. The base section 35 is provided at its upper end with a lateral flange 48, having a lateral stop element 49 bolted thereto, and disposed in the path of travel of the yoke 42, to limit the upward movement of the yoke and its piston 40.

Steam is supplied to the lower end of the The adj acent' cylinder 32 by means of. a pipe 50, which is connected with'the steam supply pipe 18 of the. engine. The numeral 51 designates a two-way valve of any well known or preferred type. This valve is normally held in one position by means of a spring 52, whereby the passage of steam through the pipe 50 from the pipe 18 is prevented, while the lower end of the cylinder 32 is placed in communication with the atmosphere, by exhaust. When the valve is turned to the right, the exhaust is closed andsteam will be supplied to the cylinder 32. This valve is operated by a link53, extending rear- Wardly for connection with a pedal or foot lever 54, arranged in convenient reach of. the operator, of the excavating machine.

The operation of the apparauts is as follows:

The boom 10 is moved longitudinally and raised and lowered, in the well known manner, and the door 20 is normally locked in the closed position. The piston 40 is now in the lowered .or retracted position, and the pulley 44 does not exert any substantial pressure upon the trip line 29, or this pulley may be out of contactwith the trip line. The trip line is therefore substantially straight throughout its entire length, and possesses the maximum freedom of movement with the boom 10. The shovel or dipper 19 is ordinarily dumped when in a more or less .raised position, while the dumpin may occur at any position, if de sired. ivhen it is desired to dump the shovel, the operator depresses the lever -54 with the foot, and steam is fed into the cylinder 32. This forces the piston 40 upwardly and the yoke 42 rises, bringing the pulley 44 into engagement with the trip line 29. This trip line is hence moved into engagement with the opposed pulleys 46,

and a portion of the trip line 'iscarried upwardly beyond these opposed pulleys, into a transverse bent portion. This causes the shortening of the trip line and the trip line will therefore pull upon the levels 26 and 28,

and the latch 25 will be retracted and the door 20 freed to drop. When the steam is exhausted from the cylinder 32 the piston 40 will return to the lower position, and the door 20 will return to its closed position, and will again be locked in this position by the latch 25, as is well known.

It is to be understood that the form of our invention herewith shown and described is to.

meager.

boom, a transverse shaft ri 'dly secured to the crane and supportin t e boom, means rotatably mounted upon to effect the longitudinal movement of the boom, a shovel carried b the boom and havin a door adapted to e moved to opened an closed positlons, a latch to hold the door closed, a'trip cable having connection with the latch and with the rear portion of the boom and extendin' longitudinally of the boom and normalfy being substantially straight, a support base rigidly mounted upon the transverse shaft, a cylinder carried by the lower portion of the support base," a piston within the cylinder, a piston rod secured to the piston and extending outwardly of the cylinder, a pulley secured to the piston rod and movable into engagement with the trip line in a direction transversely of the same, pulleys arranged upon the opposite side of the trip line and supported by the upper portion of the 'base support, and means to supply fluid pressure to the cylinder.

2. In an excavating-machine, a crane, a boom, a. transverse shaft ri idly secured to the crane and supporting t e boom, means rotatably mounted upon the transverse shaft to efiect the longitudinal movement of the boom, ashovel carried by the boom and having a door, a latch to ho d the door closed, a trip cable connected with the latch and with the rear portion of the boom and extending longitudinally of the boom, a support base mounted upon the transverse shaft, means whereby the support base may be angularly adjusted upon the transverse shaft and clamped thereto in adjustment at a selected angular position, a cylinder carried by the support ase, a piston within the cylinder, a piston rod secured to the piston, a pulley securedto the piston rod and movable transversely of the trip line in a direction transversely thereof, pulleys arranged upon the e transverse shaft opposite side of the trip line and secured tothe base support, and means to supply fluid pressure to the cylinder. v

3. In an excavating machine, a crane, a

boom, a transverse shaft rigidly securedtothe crane and pivotally supporting the boom, means rotatable upon the transverse shaft to efi'ect the longitudinal movement of the boom, a shovel carried by the boomand having a door, a latch to hold the door closed, a.

trip cable connected with the latch and extending longitudinally of the boom, a support base mounted upon the transverse shaft, means whereby the support base may be an 'ularly adjusted upon the transverse shaft an clamped thereto in adjustment at a selected angular position, and mechanism mounted upon the support base to engage with the trip cable and move a portion of it laterally, said mechanism being so arranged that the trip cable is normally substantially strai ht throughout its entire length. 7

4. 11 an excavating machine, a crane, a

boom, a transverse shaft carried by the crane and supportin the boom, means to move the boom longitu mally and to raise and lower it, a shovel carried by the boom and having a door, a latch to hold the door closed, a"

trip line connected with the latch andextending longitudinally of the boomand normally substantially straight throughout its length, a support base mounted upon the WILLIAM E. TRAPNELL. JOSEPH A. EASIEBWOOD. 

